Denim Pencil Case and Covered Book

A friend of mine from overseas had her farewell party a few weeks ago. I decided to make her a pencil case and on advice from my mother, also covered a notebook to give to her. The pencil case is made from denim, with a cotton print lining. I copied a pencil case that I already owned and I think it turned out quite well.

As you may have noticed, the lining features Australian gum tree leaves, and the pencil case is personalised.

I bought a plain notebook and covered it in denim, overlocking the edges and gluing it on with wood glue. To make it sit better I cut out triangles at the spine, and cut the corners off on a diagonal. The front of the cover features a rainbow lorikeet perched on a J in cross stitch, the design of which is from Allura's Australia in Cross Stitch.

Painted Silk Bag

I've been cleaning out my cupboard today - long needed. I started doing it because I managed to lose one of my slippers and one of my special ultra-thermal wool socks. As it's very cold at the moment I need them desperately. Although I haven't found them yet I did manage to get side tracked...

This is a project I did last year. I made it from a silk handkerchief and some delicious gold silk dupioni, as well as some silk painting materials.

The silk handkerchief was originally white, but by using silk paints I was able to create a fan design on it, in red, black and gold, which looks (if I do say so myself) stunning but simple.

To make the bag stronger I lined the bag with interfacing, than covered the interfacing with the silk dupioni. The handle and clasp are made from different coloured DMC threads, tied in the Chinese Staircase pattern. The button is one that I got from Stitch Bliss a while ago, because I just couldn't resist it...

Unfortunately I haven't really had an opportunity to use the bag yet as it is more for show than actual use - I'd only be able to put in a few small things - and obviously you always need more room. :)

Origami

It was a cold and rainy Christmas. The wind was howling outside and the roof was rattling in the rain... Yes, I know it's 6 months since Christmas, but I've been lazy and just haven't got round to it.

Because Christmas was so miserable, I was stuck inside all day, every day for about three weeks on end. Bored and cold, I resorted to cleaning out my bedroom - finally :)

Of course, whilst cleaning the room I found some very interesting things - old lolly wrappers, clothes I thought I'd lost etc. Then I came across some old origami kits that someone had given me, however many years ago.

Gladly turning my back on the half-cleaned (and probably messier) room, I started to revise my (pitiful) origami skills. Amazing how much you can forget in less than 2 years...

A while later and I had gone through the childish instruction books and was ready for something more.

Searching for some interesting things to make I came across Modulo Origami, a style where you make one small piece many times and join the small pieces up to make a big shape.

Unfortunately after only a few tries I ran out of paper, and patience. I'll probably try again in a few years.

The Amazing Egg-bot

One of my Christmas presents, the Egg-bot, is a very clever machine that can be used to draw on light-bulbs, golf-balls, anything round - but especially eggs. As a result of this gift, since Christmas, there hasn't been an egg in the house that does not have a beautiful design drawn on it.

 The machine uses a ultra fine tip Sharpie to draw on the eggs. At the moment I've only got a black one, but I'll be getting some coloured ones soon, to make even more designs.